Somerset faces a significant housing challenge, with new data revealing it would take eight years to accommodate all households currently seeking one-bedroom homes. According to a recent council report, over 12,500 households remain on the Homefinder housing register—a system that enables applicants to bid for council and housing association properties as they become available.
One- and two-bedroom properties are the highest in demand. For every one-bedroom house or flat offered, an average of 13 people apply, underscoring intense competition. Two-bedroom homes see similar pressure, with over six applications per available property.
The demand surge is reflected in the sharp rise in registrations over the past decade—from 8,217 households in late 2016 to 12,590 in early 2025/26. The Bioanding system categorizes applicants based on urgency: bronze, silver, gold, and emergency. As of December 2025, most applicants fall into the bronze band, where the majority require one-bedroom homes.
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Council members expressed concern at the ongoing levels of street homelessness and the lengthy waits. Edric Hobbs, Liberal Democrat councillor for Mendip Hills, questioned why some individuals remain homeless year after year. Sam Wenden de Lira, the council’s head of Homefinder and temporary accommodation services, explained that landlords ultimately decide to whom they offer properties based on their own criteria. Additionally, the council operates a dedicated rough sleeping team focused on engaging and supporting those living on the streets. Building trust with rough sleepers can be a slow process, but essential for helping them secure long-term housing.
Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey of Taunton South highlighted the need to refine the Homefinder system to better prioritize those urgently needing rehousing. She pointed out that many applicants currently live in “adequate” accommodation but face overcrowding, family merging, or wish to downsize. These nuances are not fully reflected in the current register, potentially masking the true urgency of many applicants' housing needs.
Based on current demand and building rates, it is projected that housing all applicants would require eight years for one-bedroom homes, five years for two-bedrooms, seven for three-bedroom homes, and up to ten years for four-bedroom houses. This timeline highlights the pressing need for increased housing supply and system improvements to better serve Somerset’s residents.